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Former Deputy Charged With Sexual Assault Found Dead

A former sheriff’s deputy who was being held on numerous sexual assault charges was discovered dead in his prison cell.

Marty L. Rainey was facing various state and federal charges when he was found dead at the Ste. Genevieve County Jail on March 26. At the time, the 52-year-old former Gasconade County officer was awaiting a detention hearing, which was scheduled to take place on March 31.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Missouri State Highway is investigating the “in-custody death,” which is standard procedure in such incidents. Interviews from staff members and surveillance footage will be analyzed as part of the investigation.

"At this point, it appears to be a suicide, but the investigation is ongoing," said Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Major Jason Schott.

It is unknown whether Rainey had been on suicide watch at the time of his death.

Christian Goeke, Rainey’s lawyer, was informed of his client’s death by U.S. Marshals. The marshals also notified Rainey’s wife.

"This is certainly not an outcome that our office was seeking," U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan said. "I have sympathy for this family."

In 2012, Rainey had resigned from the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office after a therapist came forward with allegations that the former deputy and a friend, 46-year-old Jonathan Edward Pohlmann, had sexually assaulted one of the counselor’s clients, as reported by River Front Times.

"We have cooperated fully with the DDCC investigation," said Sheriff Randy Esphorst, as reported by The Gasconade County Republican in January 2015.

Rainey was charged in January 2015 after other women detailed events of abuse, rape, and coercion, some of which occurred while Rainey was in uniform. Some of the victims were under the age of 18.

"I asked for a full and vigorous investigation," said Esphrost. "I did not want this swept under the rug."

In January 2015, he was charged with two counts of sexual assault and acceding to corruption by a public servant, and two counts statutory rape and use of a child in a sexual performance.

Rainey was indicted in federal court in March 2015 on one charge of enticement of a minor to engage in a commercial sex act and four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.

Pohlmann also pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to violate civil rights.